Method of and tool for making a spring



METHOD OF AND TOOL FQRVMAKING A SPRING Filed Dec. 8, 1957 INVENTORS ALFRED J. BERG JOHN D. HUSE ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 2c, 1940 UNITED STATES METHOD OF AND T OOL FOR MAKING A RING Alfred J. Berg, Portsmouth, N. H.,,and John 0.

' Huse, United States Navy Application December a, 1937, Serial No. 178,699

' 3 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30,

Our invention relates primarily to a new and usefulmethod of and tool for making a spring.

This'invention is an improvement upon'our invention disclosed in an application for Letters Patent entitled Spring and method of making the same, Serial No. 178,698, filed 8'December, 1937, and to which reference may be had for a fuller understanding of the present invention and the problems overcome thereby.

Instead of making springs from the more expensive forms of metal, which are rolled or drawn to the shape in cross-section desired for the spring, we shear-cut the spring of its desired shape and cross-section from a larger piece which is a comparatively inexpensive form of the metal. We have found that our present invention produces a very useful, durable and eflicient spring at a substantially lesser cost than has been heretofore possible with the employment of the prior practice of making springs. While springs of many kinds may be advantageously made by our invention, the same is very advantageously employable in the making of the usually more expensive form of spring known 25 as the helically coiled spring.

According to our invention embodied in the before-stated application, the spring is cut from larger metal by a cutter having a substantially straight cutting'edge, which, with other characteristics of said cutter, cold works the metal of the severed spring to render the metal of the severed spring. more advantageous for spring purposes. According to our present invention we likewise sever the spring metal by a cutter having a cutting edge which shears the metal. In the present invention the cutting edge of the cutter is notin a straight line when viewed from one I side of the cuttenbut varies in height at different points in the length of the cutter. This cutting edge not only compresses the metal in advance of the cut but causes some flow of the metal being out along the edge of the cutter, while other char- 'acteristics of the cutter afford to the cut spring additional cold working which we have found 45 advantageous in springs.

Other features, objects and advantages of our invention will be rendered apparent from an understanding of the following specification and the drawing. 1

In the drawing, in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts:

Figure 1 is a top view of a portion of a lathe,

or other turning tool, in the act of turning a heli- .cal spring having a. central hole therethrough from the end of a tubular bar of metal with an independent stationary bar entering the hole in v the bar to receive thereabout and support the spring as severed; v

Fig. 2 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the spring being turned from the end of a solid bar of metal, with the severed spring as the only shaving resulting from the operation, and leaving a central projection integral with the end' of said bar for supporting the severed portion of the spring by its periphery engaging the central hole through the severed portion, all performed at a single operation;'

Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of the cutting portion of a turning tool employed in the instance shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front or outer end elevation view of the turning tool shown in Figs. 1 and-'3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation view of the' outer portion of the turning tool shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6is an elevation view of the outer end of the turning tool shown in Figs. 2 and 5;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation view of a-modified form of the turning tool shown in Figs. 2 and 5;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation viewed from the outer end of the turning tool shown in Figs. 2 and 7;

Figs. 9 and 10 are top plan views of modified forms of the outer portion of the turning tool shown in Figs. 2 and 5;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation View of a portion of a helical spring made and characterized according to our invention; and

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are enlarged cross-sectional views of modified forms of the metal comprising the spring helices.

The revolvable spindle 62 of the usual or any conventional type of lathe, screw machine or other turning tool, may be fitted with chuck it provided with adjustable holding 'jaws Hla, or other suitable means, for securing thereto one end of the tubular bar of metal M, in whose longitudinal opening extends a preferably rigid bar I lb, Figs. 1 and 3, having a notch l lbb in one side thereof. The shank it of a turning tool having a cutting edge El longitudinally disposed along the outer end thereof is suitably mounted in a conventional tool post I3 securedupon :1. carriage 830. with said edge ll extending parallel with and in close proximity to an end of said bar I I, with the outer end of the turning tool pro-' vided with the cutting edge l'l extending from beyond the outer periphery to the central opening in bar H, and may extend into said notch I Ib-b to insure the complete severance of the whole width of the spring from .the end of bar II. A turning tool it of usual construction is mounted in tool post I3 at the side of the turning tool I5 for turning true the outer surface of the bar II in advance of the severance of the spring I la therefrom by the cutting edge I? of the turning tool I5.

In Fig. 2 the bar Hub of metal, from the'end of which the spring i la may be helically turned, is solid, and the outer end of the cutting edge I I is so constructed as to sever the spring from the end of the bar at a point sufiicientlyremoved from the longitudinal axis of the bar IIab to form the central longitudinal hole through the spring lie, and at the same time to form in the center of the end of the bar Hub 2. projection I id integral with the bar I lab and of a diameter coincident with that of the central opening through the spring Ila. This projection Ild enables cheaper metal in the form of a solid bar I lab to be used as the parent stock from the end of which the helical spring of our invention may be turned rapidly, economically and efficiently, instead of employing the more expensive metal in the form of tubular bar II shown in Fig. l.-

In each of Figures 1 and 2 the tool post I3, rigidly mounted upon the'carriage I311, is moved longitudinally at a definite, desirable, redetermined rate proportionate to the revolvable movement of the bar II or Ilab, the relative rate of such longitudinal movement determining the thickness of the metal comprising the spring helices.

In each of Figures 1 and 2 the spring Ila is the only shaving resulting from the operation of our invention, except where turning tool It is employed to true up the outer diameter of the bar II or iIab. Thus, in accordance with our invention, practically no waste of metal occurs, as even the projections IId, remaining after the solid bar Ilab has been turned completely into springs Ila, may be used as true turned stock which commands a high price in the metal market.

There are substantial differences in structure and characteristics between the turning tool I 2 of our aforesaid application and the turning tool l5 of the present application, as well as betweenthe like tools illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Relative to our aforesaid application, the shavings of the prior art were wholly or mainly waste product, whose length was required to be broken up into relatively short pieces to preclude parent bar ii or IIab, quite differently, by substantially diderent characteristics of said turning tool id, to provide still diiierent valuable properties for spring purposesto the severed spring'ila. One of these characteristics of our present invention is that the cutting edge II of the turning tool It does not extend in a straight line nor radially from the point of the neutral axis or" the bar II or Ilab, or radially from a point approximately one thirty-second of an inch above or below such neutral axis, pursuant to the turning practice taught by the prior art for many years as essential to good turning; but the edge I? varies in height at different points in the length of the turning tool. In the meanderlngs of cutting edge II to different heights at varying points in the length oi the turning tool I5, such edge violates the teachings of the prior art by substantially departing from the requirement of the prior art for good turning that the cutting edge should be upon a line extending radially from the neutral axis of the bar from an end of which the shaving was to be cut, or extending radially from a point about one thirty-second of an inch above or below such neutral axis. In the instance shown in Fig. 3 the cutting edge I? extends irom within the recess Ilbb of the stationary bar lib to a point beyond the outer diameter of the bar II. The metal of bar I! at its central opening is engaged by the cutting edge II of the turning tool l5 at a point substantially below a horizontal plane passed through the neutral axis of the bar II, Fig. 3, and extends upwardly and outwardly across the end of bar II in a curved path in the instance shown. This curved path in such instance has its highest point substantially above said plane, and the metal of the outer edge of. bar II is adapted to engage said edge II at a point above said plane and preferably below the highest point of said edge It. In said instance, said edge ll throughout its engagement with. the metal of the end of bar II, extends abcve a plane passed through the point of its engagement with the metal of bar II at its adjacent inner and outer edges, and which plane passes at a downward angle below the neutral axis of the bar II. The metal of the turning tool I5, whose upper surface bears said edge I1, may be somewhat thinner than the body of the shank of said tool I5. Its

lateral or side rake surface I'Ia, which extends downward at an angle from the edge I1, is beveled, and preferably slightly arched vertically and longitudinally as it extends from edge I1 downwardly and outwardly to the lower edge of the turning tool I5. The severed portion of spring Ila passes over and infirm contact with said surface I111. The lateral clearance surface of the tool I5 is slightly beveled downwardly and away from said edge II, commencing at a point below the hereinafter'stated nicks 2i, so as to avoid frictional contact 01. said surface with the end of bar II at any point in the extent of said bevel. While said edge I1 is sharp, it is supported by metal of tool I5 of substantial and progressively increasing thickness from said edge I! to the bottom of tool l5. Consequently, in cutting the spring Ila the density of the metal of bar II immediately in advance of said edge I'I, while such cutting is progressing, is increased in density by the force required for said cutting. This not only cold works at least a portion of the metal of the spring Ila being thus severed, but it likewise cold works the metal of the adjacent surface of thebar II which will comprise the portion of spring I la to be subsequently cut from bar II, in the instance that the spring Ila. is a helical spring, or the surface of the succeeding spring where a flat or non-helical spring is to be out according to our invention. It will be understood that the terms cold worked" or cold working, when employed herein, refer to the metal being cut at substantially room or atmospheric temperature and substantially unheated, except that arising from the force and same is being severecl.

is appreciably and designedly increased by our invention.

The metal of the portionof spring IIa being severed by said cutting edge ll, being rendered of increased density at and above said cutting edge Il, as aforesaid, is passed at a sharp outward angle from the end of bar II by, over and downwardly across the surface Ila of the turning tool I5. This still further cold works the metal of the severed portion of the spring by increasing the density of the metal of the outer surface of the severed portion of the spring, and by slightly reducing the density, or stretching, the metal of the opposite surface of the severed portion of the spring which is in contact with said surface Ila of the turning or cutting tool I5. This last stated further cold working of the spring simultaneously with its severance from the bar II even visually transforms the appearance of the surface of the metal of the severed spring visible to the unaidedeye, especially where the severed spring is of copper. Such transformation is most evident upon that surface of the severed portion of the spring which does not come.

in contact with the surface Ila of the turning tool or cutter I5. While the freshly cut or end surface of bar II, which comprises the surface of the spring in question when the same ,is severed, is bright, the same is transformed at a point opposite the cutting edge Il into a dull pr frosted appearance progressively as the metal is being severed and commences to pass at a wide angle onto and over thesurface Ila of the turn ing tool or cutter I5. This seems clearly to be due tothe compression or further compression of the metal of such surface of the spring as the Simultaneously with such compression, the metal of the opposite surface of the spring being severed, at least a part of which was compressed and its density increased by the force incident to severing the spring from the bar II, is somewhat stretched and polished as the beveled portion of the spring passes out- Wardly at a sharp angle from bar II and upon and over the surface Ila of the turning tool or cutter I 5.

The cutting edge II of turning tool or cutter I5 being not in a straight line as viewed in side elevation, but of varying height at different points in its length, gives to the spring severed thereby from larger metal characteristics which we have found advantageous for spring purposes. 'Such characteristics, in addition to those heretofore indicated, typically are (a) that in the prior art turning practice where a metal shaving may be helically cut from an end of a bar, by a tool or cutter whose straight cutting edge usually extends radially from the neutral axis of such bar and the shaving breaksinto short pieces, due to such radial cut and its action upon the metal of e the bar which, in somemetals, has a grain whichv is cross-cut at some points, and cut with the grain at other points about the circle of said bar. Where the grain is cross-cut by the process of the prior art, the shaving is broken by the process of cutting into small bits. However, by

our invention even metal having a grain which density of the metal about the cutting edge, also causes some fiowage of particles ofthe metal longitudinally along said edge Il from a higher to a lower point along said edge ll; said edge Il simultaneously and progressively cuts as well as stretches the metal of, and in the direction of the width of, the spring, or each helices thereof. The highest point'of the cutting edge I! severs a portion of the width of the spring, 01' spring helices, while portions-of the bar II on opposite sides of such high point are still integral with and unsevered from the bar II. Such partial severance necessarily results in a progressive stretching of the metal, due to the substantial angle, as well as outward lateral and longitudinal curvature of the surface Ila of the turning or cutting tool I5. Such surface Ila being associated with the high as well as other points in the length of the cutting edge I1, and the fact that portions of the metal of bar II on. opposite sides of the high point in cutting edge II are still unsevered from the bar II, the inter mediate severed portion of the spring He is substantially stretched by and to the extent of the penetration of the surface Ila of tool I5 into the metal of the end ofbar I I before the edge Il breaks through the inner andouter surfaces of the end of bar II being cut. of such stretching may be determined in Figs. 3 and '7 by placing a straight edge across the points in cutting edge I! contacted by the inner and-the outer diameters of the bar II or the inner and outer edges of the spring or spring helices in the instance shown in Figs. 2'and 7', and by the thinness of the cutting edge I! compared to the varying thickness of the tool in its extent between the points where the inner and outer edges of the severed spring contact the cutting edge II. This progressive stretching the metal in the direction of the width of the spring occurs simultaneously and progressively with the aforesaid increasing density or compression stress upon the metal in the region at and slightly above the cutting edge II, which latter tends to compress and stress the metal of the spring in a longitudinal direction; ((1) additional cold working of the metal of the severed portion of the spring, as well as additional strength to the severed spring'itself, we have attained by placing one or more nicks ZI in the cutting edge IT, as indicated in Figs. 7 through 10. Each nick H is associated with a groove 22 registering with each nick at one end and extending over the surface Ila of the tool I5. In the instance shown each of these grooves 22 are in the arc of a circle whose center is coincident with the neutral axis of tne bar II or IIab. Such nick or nicks 2I may be placed in the edge ll of any form of the cutting edge of the tool I5. The nick or nicks 2| form no break in the vertical cutting face of the tool I5 The magnitude at whose upper margin is the cutting edge Il, and

consequently form no ridge upon the end of the bar II or IIab, from the end of which the spring may be severed. In severing the spring with the cutter provided with the nick or nicks 21 and .grooves 22 its cutting action is as heretofore described, together with that resulting from the nicks and grooves. In such cutting the edge I'I severs the metal in advance of the severance thereof by the bottoms of the nicks 2|. This re sults in the metal severed by the edge I! being started to flow therefrom into and over the initial portion of the surface Ila, while the portion of cutting edge Il forming the edge of the nicks 2| is receiving the metal and commencing to cut each such groove 22 and to stretch the metal,

lying in each such groove 22. This pressure of the cutting and sliding of the metal in and along each groove results in the formation along the length of the spring I Ia of a corrugation 23 for each nick 2i and groove 22 in the tool I5. The convex A side of the corrugation 23 conforms to the shape of the groove 22, while the opposite concave portion thereof is not defined by direct contact with any part of the tool IE but results merely from the stretching of the metal of the spring I I a. by the force of cutting the metal included within each groove 22 by the cutting edge ll, which forms each nick 2i, and which results in the formation of the convex side of grooves 22 and corrugation 23 in spring Ha.

Each of the before mentioned forms of cold working the metal transforms the characteristics 'of the metal of the severed spring Ma from the metal of the bar II or IIab from which the spring is cut. Each of these transformations is produced simultaneously with the cutting of the spring, and extend continuously throughout the length of the severed spring, and afi'ord to the metal of the severed spring characteristics which we have found very advantageous for spring purposes. One or more of these characteristics may be imparted to the spring according to the character and requirements of such service; while all of such characteristics enable the spring to function satisfactorily under severe service conditions.

In connection with Figs. 1 and 3, wherein the spring Ila is severed from the end of tubular bar II and the outer or tip end of the turning tool or cutter I5 which extends within the bore of tubular bar II and into the notch IIbb of rigid bar I Ib, whose end extends within the bore of said bar II while the periphery of bar IIb receives and supports from lateral vibration the helical coils of spring IIa as severed from the end of bar II, such outer or tip end of the tool I5 performs no function. However, to equip the tool I5 of Figs. '3 and 4 for dispensing with said bar IIb by cutting the same from the end of the solid bar I lab, Fig. 2, and leaving a central integral projection 11 of bar Hub to support from lateral vibration the spring lIa as severed progressively from the end of bar IIab, such outer or tip end is provided with a terminal surface ITIh extending downwardly from the outer end of cutting edge I I, which edge I I is joined at its outer end by a cutting edge I17 which forms the outer margin of the beveled surface Ila of said tool Ii. Below said surface "In the tool I5 is provided with an outer surface IIi which extends to the bottom edge. of the tool I5 and supports the metal of the outer end of tool I5 having the surface IIh, the downwardly and laterally extending cutting edge I17 and the outer end of the cutting'edge II.

To helically turn or cut a helical spring Ila from the end of solid bar Ilab, Fig. 2, the point or outer cutting end of the tool I5, represented by the juncture of the cutting edges I1 and I19, is adjusted across the outer end of bar I I ab until said juncture is brought to the point within the circumference of bar IIab to define the diameter of said projection (Z of bar IIab, as well as the edge of the central opening through the spring to be severed. whereupon, the bar I lab and said tool I5 are relatively rotated and longitudinally moved. Thereupon the cutting edge I! of tool I5 commences to cut the lateral surface of spring Ila from the end of solid bar Hub, and simultaneously therewith the cutting edge I'Iy commences to cut the inner edge of the spring IIa from the bar Ilab, which simultaneously forms the central opening through the spring and. the integral projection IId of bar Ila. which occupies such central opening, and precludes the lateral vibration of the severed portion of the spring which would otherwise result from the rapid rotation and helical cutting. The cutting edge I'ij directly joining with the outer end of the longitudinal cutting edge ll of the tool I5 results in the formation of a square or right angled edge Me of spring Ila, Fig. 13.

We have further found that said cutting edge E'Ij of tool Iii may be dispensed with by providing the outer end of the tool 5 with a curve I'In,

of the tool I5, shown in Figs. 5 and 9, an initial cut is made upon the outer end of bar IIab by the tool having the joined cutting edges I'I, IIn, in which the curved cutting edge IIn forms upon the end of bar Hub 2. flat annular surface represented by the edge i'I having at its inner margin a curve I I n, Fig. 14. In the cutting of the spring II a from such bar the inner edge of the spring, which forms the central opening through the helically cut spring, is formed by two like curved surfaces IIn, Fig. 14, whose somewhat parallel surfaces are spaced apart conformable to the thickness desired of the metal of the spring. At the inner edge of the helical spring Ila, which forms the central opening through the spring, the curves Iln merge into each other, and this point of merger defines the periphery of the integral projection (Z of the bar Ilab as well as the opening through the spring, and also forms the lateral projection IIc of spring Ila. This curved cutting edge H11 and nick IIm also cold work the metal of the edge of the spring forming the projection Ho and between the curves 12. In such cold working the nick I'Im greatly increases the top rake or bluntness of the beveled surface IIa of tool I5. This increased bluntness greatly increases in the region of said nick I'Im the'density of the metal at and in advance of being cut by the cutting edges l1, I'In, which border the nick I'Im, due to the substantial increase of the force required to sever the metal in the region of nick IIm, due to the increased bluntness of the surface Ila afforded by the nick 11m. Said cold working also produces in the severed spring characteristics which we have found to be advantageous for spring purposes.

In Fig. 10 is shown a modified form of the cutter shown in Figs. 5 and 9, in which the curved cutting edge I'In is dispensed with and a short cutting edge Up is substituted therefor which at one end joins at a right angle the outer end of cutting edge I1, and its remaining end extends to the width of the nick IIm which exceeds the width of the spring to be cut and produces a square or right angled edge of the spring, as

shown at Me in Fig. 13. Simultaneously with the formation of this inner edge lle of spring Ila by said cutting edge lip and its accompanying nick I Im, Fig. 10, the metal comprising such edge is cold worked substantially the same asdescribed in connection with Figs. 5, 6, and 9.

In Fig. 3 the cutting edge I! of tool l5 dips or meanders mainly downwardtoward the central portion of the bar II, which causes a fiowage of metal along cutting edge I! mainly toward the center of bar II. However, in Figs. 7 and 8 is illustrated a tool I5 whose cutting edge I! is highest at a. point at or near the center of the width of the spring to be out. From this high point the cutting edge I! dips or meanders in opposite directions toward the opposite edges of the spring to be cut. In this case the fiowage of some of the metal being cut occurs along the edge I! in opposite directions on opposite sides In the beveled surface Ila of any of the tools I5 illustrated, any number of grooves 22 may be formed with their registering nicks 2! in the cutting edge I'I.

While in our before-mentioned application the grooves 22 are not disclosed as concentric with the'neutral axis of the bar II or Ilab, such grooves 22 are herein shown to be curved, and which curves may be or approximate to concentric with such neutral axis.

Cutting tools cutting in a continuous straight line, where, for instance, the cutting'tools are mounted in a machine tool known as a shaper or a planer, and which cutting tools havethe characteristics, or any ofthem, of the herein disclosed cutting tool I5, will cut a straight spring of our invention from a larger piece of metal and simultaneously cold work the same to thereby afford characteristics in the metal of the spring which we have found very advantageous for spring purposes.

It will be understood from the foregoing, by those skilled in this art, what comprises our method, and the transformed characteristics of' the metal of the severed spring. It will likewise be understood herefrom that the cutting edge l3 of tool l2 of our before-stated application does not make a shear cut, and that the cutting edges IT and Mn of our present application .do make a shear cut; that the cutting edge I! of tool [5 of the present application may fairly be said to meander throughout the width of the spring to be cut and that its line of cleavage in the metal being severed may likewise be characterized;

that the cuttingedge I I is adapted to meander somewhat radially into the end of the metal bar remaining designated cutting edges functioning to machine and define the inner edge of the spring as severed; while in Fig. l, and in dotted 1 lines in Fig. 3, wherein the spring is turned from the end of a hollow or tubular bar, the bore of the tube defines the inner edge of the spring when severed; and that the cold working of the metal occasioned by the cutting of the spring beneficially afiects the metal of the spring which is being severed, as well as the surface of the metal of the end, of the bar from which the spring is being severed, and that in making a helical cut, after making the first substantially full helices, which may be removed in cases where not adapted for the service requirements of a particular spring, both lateral surfaces of the spring helices are equally cold worked by the act of cutting the spring in addition to the other species of cold working heretofore described.

We have furthermore observed that a helical spring made with a cutter disclosed in Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, by cutting from the end of a tubular bar the inner and outer diameters of the helical spring, will be less than-the outer and inner diameters of the tubular bar from which the same, is being cut, due to the major slope of the cutting edge I! of the cutting tool being toward the center of the bar II; and that when such major slope is toward the outer edge of the tubular bar, the inner and the outer diameters of the severed spring are somewhat larger than those of the bar from which the spring is being severed; and that in each case of inequality .in

the diameters of the severed spring and the bar from which the spring was severed, the edges of the severed springand of the bar from which it is cut coincide only progressively around the I end of the bar as the spring is being severed.

In the case of the spring being cut smaller'than the diameter of the bar from the end of. which the same was cut, the diameter of the stationary spring supporting bar N17 is correspondingly decreased.

The angles formed by the various faces of the tool I5 relative to. its cutting edge II are con sidered as the surface Ila being the side rake, and the one extending at a slight angle below the edge II is the clearance. In the cutter of Figs. 3,

' 4, '7, and 8, the cutting edge IIa' forms the outer edge of the side rake, while the surface IIh, Fig. 4, extending downward and slightly inward from edge I17 is the clearance. In the cutter of Figs. 5, 6, 9, and 10, the cutting edges IIn and I11 are each provided respectively with clearances which are, as will be understood by those skilled in the art herefrom, continuations of the clearance of the edge II. The nick IIm, in the instances shown in Figs. 5, 6, 9, and 10, initially increase the top rake normally afforded by the surface We.

It will be understood that in the instances 'shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the cutting angle of the tool I la, as well as its side rake angle represented by its surface Ma, are each normal for the mate- I,

the cutting thrust of the cutter upon the metal being out, which cold works the metal being cut into an increased strength and toughness and as hereinbefore described.

Before our invention it was unknown that solely by cutting or turning a metal article, or a shaving therefrom, that such article or shaving may possess greater strength, toughness, surface density and finish, as well as resistance to corrosion and wear than was possessed by the parent metal before being so cut or turned, and that such cut or turned metal was advantageous and We are aware of a prior practice, termed Auto frettage, wherein high pressure liquid is directly applied within an ordnance bore to outwardly stress and stretch the metal of the wall of such bore beyond its elastic limit, but below its fracture point, to thereby transform the characteristics of such metal by imparting thereto increased strength and toughness. In such practice, no cleavage of metal is involved, and every precaution is exercised to avoid any fracture or cleavage of metal therein, as the same destroys the utility of the manufactured bore which is subsequently subjected to such practice.

In our invention, cleavage controlled to a line conforming to a cut or turned surface of the metal of a required spring is a very desirable part of our .invention. Such cleavage is occasioned by stressing the metal along such line of cleavage at least to its shearing point, while at least the metal adjacent such line is subjected to compression stress beyond its elastic limit, but below its fracture point, which stress occasions a fiowage of metal at least adjacent such line, although such metal may be at room temperature but for said stress. We have found that suchstress may be associated with and occasioned by an abnormal cleavage of the spring from a larger piece of metal, whose normal characteristics are unadapted for spring purposes, and that such cleavage beneficially transforms the characteristics of the metal so stressed and cleaved into a spring and into characteristics which we have found advantageous for spring purposes. While said stressing of the metal involves the application of force in excess of that required for the normal cutting or turning of a like extent of similar metal, the magnitude of such stress required to cut or turn a spring is very materially reduced by the stressing being progressively and successively applied to different relatively small areas which may extend throughout a surface or surfaces of themetal being cleaved into a spring. Such reduction in the magnitude of such stress also reduces the magnitude of the power required in the practice of our invention, as well as reduces the wear upon the machine and cutting tools which may be required for the practice of our invention.

While we have illustrated several forms of cutting or turning tools for the difierent cutting edges and other features, all of such features may be associated, when desired, with and in the cutting edges of a single tool.

The novel features of our spring are claimed in application Serial No. 309,420 filed December 15, 1939.

The invention described herein may be manun factured and used by or for the Government of the United States of zlmerica for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon orthereior.

Having now so fully described our invention that those skilled in the art may therefrom readily make and use the same, what we claim. and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The method of making a helical spring comprising progressively cutting a bar of metal continuously at its end along a non-radial line thereof and in the direction of its length to directly form by the cutting operation a helical spring.

2. The method of making a helical spring comprising progressively cutting a bar of metal continuously at its end and in the direction of its length to directly form by the cutting operation a helical spring and concurrently with the aforesaid cutting operation imparting a camber to the helical spring.

3. The method of making a helical spring comprising progresslvely cutting a bar of metal continuously at its end along a non-radial line thereof and in the direction of its length to directly form by the cutting operation a helical spring and concurrently with the aforesaid cutting operation imparting a. camber to the helical spring.

ALFRED J. BERG. JOHN O. HUSE. 

